The spotlight shines on PBS today (Aug. 4) and Thursday at the ongoing Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. PBS President Paula Kerger faces the press this morning; no doubt the Los Angeles Times’ story today on KCET’s woes will generate questions. (Much more on KCET coming soon from Current.) At 2 p.m. LA time, PBS assembles a panel of stars of yesteryear to celebrate its Pioneers of Television doc. On stage will be Mike Connors, a.k.a. detective Joe Mannix; Robert Conrad of Wild Wild West and Black Sheep Squadron; Linda Evans of Dynasty; Martin Landau, a TV veteran of everything from a Twilight Zone in 1959 to Entourage in 2008; and Nichelle Nichols, who broke racial barriers with her role as Lieutenant Uhura in Star Trek.
But perhaps the most talked-about session is the big finish at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Yoko Ono, who rarely speaks to the press, will talk about the American Masters film, “Lennon NYC.” Ono narrates the prologue to the doc. Accompanying her on stage is Susan Lacy, series creator and exec producer.
Immediately following, PBS wraps up with the dreamy-sounding “cocktails and buffet dinner on the Stardust rooftop.”
UPDATE: Masterpiece‘s Twitter feed reports this important news, that British actor Benedict Cumberbatch was spotted eating eggs Benedict.